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A. The purpose of this chapter is to define and implement the goals and policies of the Metropolitan Bakersfield 2010 general plan as they relate to the preservation and maintenance of hillsides as a scenic resource of the City and to protect the general public from the threat of wildfire, hillside instability and landslides. The HD (Hillside Development) zone district is an overlay zone. The regulations established by the HD district are in addition to those uses allowed and the regulations of the base zone district.

B. Development projects within the HD zone shall be subject to review to ensure hillside/open space development policies in the general plan are incorporated into the projects. In addition, the city council shall adopt development standards by resolution or ordinance which aid in the implementation of general plan policies and ordinances, and provide detailed written or pictorial depictions regarding policy and/or ordinance intent.

C. The following provisions of this chapter are intended to apply to areas zoned HD. This overlay zone will generally be applicable to those larger contiguous areas generally having average natural slopes of eight percent or more (see Exhibit A which is located at the end of this chapter).

D. These regulations shall be implemented when the city considers applications for grading, building permits, parcel maps, tentative tract maps, conditional use permits, zone changes, general plan amendments and site plan review.

1. Permit development in HD areas that minimizes erosion and geologic hazards and provides for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare.

2. Protect views by identifying primary and secondary viewsheds, visual resource areas and slope protection areas within the HD zone (Exhibit B-1 and B-2—Large scale exhibit available for viewing at planning department and on the city of Bakersfield’s website: www.bakersfieldcity.us ).

These areas are defined as follows:

a. “Primary viewsheds” are those locations identified along freeways, expressways or arterial roadways from which no structures or portions thereof are visible on a designated Class I visual resource area for a distance of one-half mile (Illustration 1), except as may be allowed under Section 17.66.040(P)(4).

b. “Secondary viewsheds” are those locations identified along freeways, expressways or arterial roadways from which no more than fifty percent of the height of a structural elevation is visible on a Class II visual resource area for a distance of a mile (Illustration 2), except as may be allowed under Section 17.66.040(P)(4).

c. “Class I visual resources areas” are designated ridge and hilltop areas which require a structural setback great enough so that no portion of a structure is visible from a primary viewshed

d. “Class II visual resource areas” are designated ridge and hilltop areas which require a structural setback great enough so that no more than fifty percent of the height of a structural elevation is visible from a secondary viewshed

e. “Slope protection areas” are those mapped slopes of fifteen percent and greater (Exhibits B-1 and B-2) within the HD zone area that, due to physical constraints, aesthetic value and visibility from major roadways, are to be left in their natural state with no structures or fences allowed on the slope face. Areas identified as slope protection areas shall be identified as lettered nonbuildable lots on subdivision maps.

3. Encourage development design that will:

a. Allow for orderly and sensitive development at a density that respects and is reflective of the natural terrain;

b. Encourage grading techniques that blend with the natural terrain, minimize earthmoving activities, minimize visual impacts of large cut and fill slopes, prevent erosion on the face of slopes due to drainage and provide for the preservation of unique and significant natural landforms and ridgelines;

c. Reduce water use in slope replanting and retention by encouraging grading design that minimizes manufactured slopes;

d. Maximize the positive impacts of site design, grading, landscaping, and building design consistent with the goals and policies of the general plan;

e. Maintain the integrity and natural characteristics of major landform, vegetation and wildlife communities, hydrologic features, scenic qualities, and open space. (Ord. 4391 § 1 (Exh. A), 2006)